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Musings: to meditate, think, contemplate, deliberate, ponder, reflect, ruminate, reverie, daydream, introspection, dream, preoccupation, brood, cogitate.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Getting Ready for Christmas


Getting ready for Christmas in our family starts with going to a Christmas Tree farm and cutting down our tree.   We started this tradition with our first Christmas in 1969 when it was just the two of us and continued it with our three boys.  Now we are back to just the two of us and I finally get to choose which one we get.   We found the only farm, I think, which offers Hemlocks.  I fell in love with them because they look so delicate....

Poetry and Gabriel had to check it out first, of course....

Soon it was in the house and decorated....

I also like to decorate the rest of the house.  I add garlands and lights wherever I can.  This is the fireplace in the dining room....

I always change my Harry Richardson print with the seasons....
I set up little scenes around the room.  I think I was a shop window dresser in a former life....
I love red Cardinals and try to tuck them in here and there....
The table gets filled with candles....
Snowflakes are added to the chandelier....
The sideboard displays more candles....

This year I decided to add little Santas to the bedrooms....

...and miniature trees...

The living room gets garlands and lights too....
...and Santas and Cardinals....




....and I mustn't forget my Snowman tree in honor of Gabriel the Snowman....
Hannah and her friend Erma, decorate the doll's house too....
....while Sarah and Gabe take the sleigh out in the snow....
I bought this Lenten Rose not knowing they are toxic to cats and dogs so I will enjoy it while it remains out of reach until I can plant it outside beyond the fence....
I add a wreath to the kitchen door....
....but this wreath remains all year on the front door....
...as does the Peace pillow on the door knob....
The snowmen will remain on the porch all winter....

It would be nice if the snow outside my porch would remain all winter too....
The front porch table won't be used for our evening meals for awhile so I decorate it, too....
With the decorating done I turn my attention to baking cookies.  So far this year I've made Gingerbread people....
....and Butter Cookies filled with chocolate mint and peppermint Kisses and Sugar cookie snowmen....
Gifts must be wrapped....
....and placed under the tree....
Cards need to be written in and put in the mail....
But most of all getting ready for Christmas means taking time to reflect on all God has given me.  First and foremost He has given me new life through the newborn babe we celebrate at Christmas time, Jesus....
He has given me a husband and a home and filled it for a time with children and next year we are expecting our first grandchild!

May this Christmas season bring you Joy as you place your Hope in Christ.  All you need do is....

BELIEV


I hope you enjoyed the tour of my home.  Please stay awhile and sit with me by the fire....

        

P.S.  You can make the fireplace video full-screen by clicking on the "box" in the lower right corner.  ENJOY!

8 comments:

  1. Your Christmas decorations are beautiful! I think your Westie must be much better behaved than mine. Fergus shreds anything within reach, so my decorating tends to start at about the four foot mark in our home. :-)

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    1. Thank you! Gabriel is selective. He got ahold of one of my stuffed snowmen at the base of my Snowman tree and pulled off the nose and scarf, but I think he was mad at me that day. Poetry, the cat, brought in one of those fiber snowballs from the porch. We found it shredded in the house....not sure who was responsible for that. Neither have access to the decorations at night, and I try to keep an eye on them the rest of the day. Gabriel's usually my shadow so if he disappears I go check to see what he's up to!

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  2. Cathy, it's obvious that a lot of time and love has gone into making your home festive and inviting; one day that little grandchild is going to ooh and aah and be filled with wonder. Your garden in lights and pristine snow cover is simply beautiful. I especially like the dollhouse; I could spend hours playing there myself! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the fireplace and music ... I'll be back when I can stay awhile!

    Sharon in Alabama

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    1. Hi Sharon! Thanks for stopping by. It warms MY heart to know when others like the music and videos I like to add to my posts. I feel as though I've invited you in for a cup of tea and conversation. :-)

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  3. I agree with Sharon above--your home is decorated so lovely for Christmas! I too love the dollhouse! Merry Christmas to you and your family! ♥

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    1. Thank you, Martha. Merry Christmas to you and your family, too!

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  4. Your home looks so pretty and festive. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas too.
    Sarah x

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